Orleans County 4-Hers celebrate year's achievements

Orleans County 4-Hers celebrate year's achievements

On Thursday, October 27, over 160 Orleans County 4-H members, parents and leaders gathered at the Trolley Building on the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds in Knowlesville to celebrate the past year's achievements. Among the many honorees were the 2005 Orleans County 4-H Project Champions. Project Champions are 4-Hers 13 years and older who have completed a project record and had it judged by the Project Record Review Committee of the Leaders Association. Project records are reviewed for the overall quality of the project, the number of activities involved in the project, leadership roles of the 4-Her, community service in the project, and demonstration experiences involved in the project.

Orleans County 4-H Project Champions for the past year are:

Horse - Lyndzea Hamilton
Performing Arts - Michael Halstead, Ashton Mohney, Anne Halstead, Dean Graning.
Dog - Anne Halstead, Margaret Feldman, Michael Halstead.
Swine - Thomas Smith.
Beef - Rachel Preston.
Arts and Crafts - Aimee Shortridge, Dean Graning.
Clothing and Textiles - Dean Graning, Rachel Preston.
Pet Care - Dean Graning.
Llama - Stefani Elliott, Thomas Smith.
Cat - Aimee Shortridge.
Rabbit - Brandi Kurzowski, Dean Graning.
Goat - Dean Graning.
Food and Nutrition - Rachel Preston.

Also honored were the past year's Super Clubs. These are clubs which not only participate in a wide range of events, but also complete an exhaustive record of their achievements. The Super Club of the Medium Club (11-20 4-H Club Members) category was the Orleans County Prayer Riders. And Super Club in the Small Club category (10 4-H Club Members or less) was the Lyndonville Mongrels.

Secretaries of the 4-H Clubs were also honored with the Honorary Secretary Award. This award recognizes those clubs, particularly the secretaries, that turn in 12 secretaries reports on time during the program year. Three clubs and their secretaries were honored at Achievement Night. Hindsburg Hilltop and Towpath (secretary - Amie Collazo), the Heelers (secretary - Anne Halstead), and the Rabbit Raisers (secretary - Brandi Kurzowski) were honored for completing and submitting all 12 secretary's reports on time.

In the 4-H dog program, Anne Halstead was awarded the High Point in Achievement, recognizing her many contributions to the dog program, particularly in community service.

In the 4-H horse program, Reed Heidmann was the recipient of the Marie Dibley Award which recognizes a 4-Her who shows in both English and Western divisions and best exhibits the qualities of sportsmanship, hard work and dedication. Paige Levandowski was the recipient of the Elaine Stirk Well Rounded Rider Award which recognizes a 4-Her that competes in at least three divisions in Orleans County 4-H horse events. Jessica Claus was the recipient of the Elaine Stirk Educational Award which recognizes a 4-Her that participates in at least three educational events in the 4-H horse program.

Award Trip applications were also distributed. Award Trips are available to members 12 years and older to places such as New York City, Albany, DEC Camps, 4-H Camp Wyomoco, SUNY Cobleskill and Cornell University.

For information about the Orleans County 4-H Youth Development Program, contact the Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension at 589-5561.